About five years ago, Marlo Manning of Kingston created a nonprofit called Fairy Dog Parents. She hopes to have helped 1,000 dogs by the time the organization reaches its five-year anniversary in June.

KINGSTON -- Marlo Manning, 41, of Kingston has always been a dog lover. The more time she spent at shelters and veterinary offices with her dog, Ladybug, the more she saw families struggling to pay for their pets. In the spring of 2009 she pledged to volunteer for an organization that provided dog owners with financial help that could keep their pets out of shelters. She found that no such organization existed locally.

"The shelter system just didn't have enough resources for so many dogs," Manning said. "My goal is to keep dogs with families who love them."

After sharing her idea with friends, Manning had enough volunteers to create a nonprofit called Fairy Dog Parents.

Since then, the charity has worked with shelters and veterinarians across Massachusetts to help more than 700 dogs.

"The people we talk to tell us how their dog got them through hard times like cancer or divorce," she said. "You see the impact these dogs have on families and communities."

A family in need of help with medical bills and vaccinations, testing and food costs can get $300 from Fairy Dog Parents. A family that needs help with bills for chronic care for conditions such as diabetes, epilepsy, arthritis, blindness and cancer, or for emergency treatment – after a dog is hit by a car, for example – can get $800.

Helen Taylor of Hanover is among the 700 dog owners who have received assistance from Fairy Dog Parents. She couldn't to have a torn ligament in her boxer, Jagger's, right leg surgically repaired until Fairy Dog Parents provided her with money. The organization also helped her pay for another surgery after Jagger tore the same ligament in her other leg.

"For a while I thought I was going to have to give her up or put her to sleep," Taylor said. "If it weren't for (Fairy Dog Parents), I wouldn't have the love of my life."

Families who would like to get assistance from Fairy Dog Parents can fill out an application at the fairydogparents.org website. After an application is received, an interview is done so the group can determine whether help can be provided.

Manning said money that comes "dollar by dollar" enables Fairy Dog Parents to do what it does. The nonprofit administers sponsorship programs, runs fundraisers and accepts donations.

Manning runs the nonprofit in addition to working full time as a human relations representative at a medical device company in Taunton. She credits "amazing volunteers" and her family with enabling her to do it.

She said financial restrictions make it difficult for the organization to grow, but she hopes to eventually expand services outside of Massachusetts.

She also said she hopes to have helped 1,000 dogs by the time Fairy Dog Parents reaches its five-year anniversary in June. The milestone will be celebrated at the "Lucky Dog Bowl-athon" fundraiser on Sunday, March 16, at Boston Bowl in Hanover.

Page 2 of 2 - "We're in this to help dogs, but in the end, we're really helping people," Manning said. "To give someone a little glimmer of hope during a tough time is so fulfilling."